Sealing device for dry cells



Jan. 4, 1949" B ms 2,457,810

SEALING DEVICE FOR DRY CELLS Filed May 10, 1945 FIG. 1.

FIG. 2.

\' mu s'\\\ H [:fllillili'gli ilslilifin \M sh! l8 FIG. 3.

. I I I 19 I I I I INVENTOR. GRENVILLE B. ELLIS ATTORNEY Patented Jan.4, 1949 SEALING'DEVICE FOR DRY CELLS Grenville B. Ellis, Red Bank, N.J., asslgnor t the United States of America as represented by theSecretary of War Application May 10, 1945, Serial No. 592,952.- 4Claims. (01. 136-133) (Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as

amended April 30, 1928; 370

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or forthe Government for governmental purposes, without the payment to me ofany royalty thereon.

My invention relates to primary cells and more particularly to sealingmeans for said cells.

An-object of my invention is to provide improved sealing means for acell of the metal oxide-zinc type.

Another object of my invention is to provide a metal disc adapted so asto compressibly seal itself with a grommet of resilient material.

Another object of my invention is to provide a grommetof resilientmaterial-adapted so as to form a compressible seal between a metal discand the free edge and shoulder of a cell container. Another object of myinvention is to'provide a metal disc adapted so as-to form the negativeterminal of a cell.

-A still further object of my invention is to provide a metal discadapted so as to make an electric contact with the anode of a cell.

A primary cell is known in the art comprising an anode in the form'of astrip of corrugated zinc foil contained within a roll" ofalkali-resistant material, a depolarizer cathode of reducible mercuricoxide, an electrolyte comprising a solution of potassium hydroxidesaturated with zinc oxide, said-electrolyte being held absorbed withinsaid roll of alkali-resistant absorbent material, a container for saidcell parts of iron or steel, said for said container which forms thecover and the negative'terminal of said oeIL'said zinc top being fittedinto an elastic Neoprene ring or grommet, saidzinc top' and Neoprenering-assembly resting on the shoulder formed The mentioned cathode isdisposed at the bottom of'the container, with the anode above it, thetwo electrodes being separated by a porous disc. Theherein abovedescribed cell under test was observed to have a tendency to leak or tohave a certaina'mount-of creepage of the potassium hydroxideelectrolyte. My invention will eliminate saidleakage and prevent thecreepage of the potassium hydroxide electrolyte.

My invention will be more fully understood from'the following detaileddescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein Ihave shown a preferred embodiment thereof.

secure by Letters Patent Referring to the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a sectional perspective view of the metal disc,

Fig.2 is a sectional perspective view of the grommet, and

Fig. 3 is a. sectional view of the cell assembly.

Referring to Fig. 1, my device consists of a metal disc l0, such as azinc disc, with a downwardly extending skirt H. The grommet l2 in Fig. 2is inwardly beveled at l3 and M. The metal disc IU of Fig. 1 fitsclosely in the circular channel l5 of the grommet l2 and the downwardlyextending skirt ll of Fig. 1 fits closely through ing skirt ll peenedoutwardly, and also upwardly against the lower portion of the grommet.Thus, a channel is formed in the disc, into which channel the inner partof the lower portion" of the each of these coacting members is sealedinto the channel of the other, which construction provides a veryeiiective double seal. The metal disc-grommet assembly I! restscompressibly upon the shoulder ll! of the container IS. The peenedportion of the downwardly extending skirt ll of the metal disc I0 makesclose electric contact with anode 20. The free edge 2| of the Havingthus described my invention I desire to and claim:

1. In a primary cell comprising a metallic container, electrodes and anelectrolyte within the container, the combination of a metallic disc onone of the electrodes, a grommet insulating the disc from the container,said disc and. grommet having opposed annular interfitting channels eachsealingly receiving a portion of the other.

2. In a primary cell comprising a metallic container, electrodes and anelectrolyte within the container, the combination of a metallic disc onone of the electrodes, a resilient grommet insulating the disc from thecontainer, said disc and grommet having opposed annular interfittingchannels each sealingly receiving a portion of the other, the uppermarginal portion of the container being pressed inwardly and downwardlyonto the grommet.

3. In a primary cell comprising a metallic container, electrodes and anelectrolyte within the container, the combination of a metallic disc onone of the electrodes, a resilient grommet insulating the disc from thecontainer, said disc and grommet having opposed annular interflttingchannels each sealingly receiving a portion of the other.

4. In a primary cell comprising a metallic con- The following referencesare of record in the file of this patent:

6 UNITED'STATES PATENTS Number Name v Date 2,057,790 Potter et a1 Oct.20, 1936 2,099,599 Lange Nov. 16, 1937 1 Number Country Date FOREIGNPATENTS Number Country Date 630,124 France Aug. 9, 1927

